Last week, the Latin Recording Academy hosted its marquee Best New Artist Showcase, which featured performances from Joaquina, who won the Best New Artist category at the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs, and eight-time Latin GRAMMY nominee Nicki Nicole. The event marked the first-ever Latin Recording Academy Best New Artist Showcase to take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, hosted at Michelangelo Legend. See photos and videos from the event below and learn more about the performing guest artists Joaquina and Nicki Nicole.
Showcase opener Joaquina performed a number of her fan-favorite songs, including "Pesimista," "Quise Quererte," and her latest singles "No Llames A Lo Mío Nuestro" and "El Alquimista." One of Latin pop's most exciting rising stars, Joaquina exploded onto the scene in 2023 when she won the Latin GRAMMY Award for Best New Artist. Her 2023 debut EP, Los Mejores Años, earned her a second Latin GRAMMY nomination in the Best Singer-Songwriter Album category at the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs.
Argentina native — and one of the leading artists in the Argentine rap industry — Nicki Nicole then delivered intimate versions and subtle arrangements of her songs "Dispara," "Qué Le Pasa Conmigo," "8AM," "Plegarias," and "Llámame." A leading figure in today's Latin urban music scene, Nicki Nicole has accumulated over 1.6 billion streams across all digital music platforms and has garnered eight Latin GRAMMY nominations across multiple genres; she was nominated for Best New Artist at the 2020 Latin GRAMMYs.
The Latin Recording Academy's next Best New Artist Showcase will take place during Latin GRAMMY Week in November, featuring the nominees for the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs. Taking place Thursday, Nov. 14, in Miami at Kaseya Center, the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs will welcome the debut of a new Field and two new Categories: Best Latin Electronic Music Performance, housed within the new Electronic Music Field, and Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album (Regional-Mexican Field). Ahead of the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs, the Latin Recording Academy will host the official Latin GRAMMY Week 2024, which includes multiple events throughout Miami-Dade County including the 2024 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year gala, which this year honors 18-time Latin GRAMMY winner and two-time GRAMMY winner Carlos Vives, and the 2024 Special Awards Presentation.
The Latin Recording Academy's Best New Artist Showcase launched in November 2022 during Latin GRAMMY Week; additional Best New Artist Showcases have taken place in Mexico City; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Seville, Spain.
"Bringing our Best New Artist Showcase to Argentina for the first time, together with Joaquina and Nicki Nicole, is a unique opportunity to continue celebrating Latin music and its creators during the 25th anniversary of the Latin GRAMMYs," Latin Recording Academy CEO Manuel Abud said in a statement. "Since we launched the series two years ago, this initiative has become an excellent vehicle to bring our mission to life and reaffirm our commitment to fostering spaces that supports new music in an environment that respects cultural diversity and inclusion."
@latingrammys 🙌 Best New Artist Showcase Argentina junto a @naiki y @Joaquina presentado por @mastercard.latam 🎵👏 #LatinGRAMMY #priceless
Una noche increíble en Argentina junto a @joaquina y @Nicki_Nicole19 en nuestro Best New Artist Showcase presentado por @MastercardLAC @MastercardARG 👏🎶 #LatinGRAMMY #priceless pic.twitter.com/cWHkv70QKg
— The Latin Recording Academy / Latin GRAMMYs (@LatinGRAMMYs) September 6, 2024